Behavior of the dengue virus in solution

The dengue virus consists of four antigenically related but distinct viruses, termed Dengue virus 1-4 (DEN 1-4). We have established that the dengue virus loses infectivity over time in solution in an exponentially declining manner. The four strains examined (one from each serotype) have half-lives that range from 2.5 to 7.5 hr in defined medium. The half-life is temperature and pH-dependent and is affected by the nature of the host cell in which it is produced, but is not dependent upon the presence of either Mg(2+) ions or chelating agents. Electron microscopy (EM) of solutions of the dengue virus show almost complete virus aggregation after 24 hr at room temperature, while RT-PCR shows an intact RNA genome. These results show that the solution environment of the dengue virus is an important determinant of dengue virus infectivity.     

Behavior Problems and Cognitive Function in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

BackgroundLiver transplant (LT) is a lifesaving treatment providing excellent clinical outcomes. However, data regarding behavioral and cognitive issues after LT are sparse in Asia. This study aimed to investigate behavior and cognitive problems among pediatric LT recipients.MethodsWe used the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to evaluate behavior problems and/or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) to assess cognitive function. Participants were children aged 2 to 18 years who were treated with LT for at least 2 years.ResultsWe included 77 children with a median age of 7.8 years (interquartile range, 5.0-10.9). All children were evaluated with the CBCL, and 26 children were available for WISC-III assessment. Approximately one-third (34%) of the children had a total CBCL score above a clinical cutoff for significant behavior problems, and 29% of school-aged children had abnormal competence scores in a clinically significant range. Most of the evaluated children (17 of 26; 65%) had a normal full-scale intelligence quotient. Lower cognitive function was associated with having a single parent (P < .01). Higher behavior problems were associated with lower parental education level (P = .01) and correlated with longer post-transplant duration (Spearman’s rho = 0.443; P < .001).ConclusionsSignificant numbers of children have behavior problems after LT. Most children have normal cognitive function, although a larger sample size is required to confirm this result. Long-term support for cognitive and behavior problems after LT should be implemented, particularly in children with single parents and lower parental education level.     

Effects of intradialytic cycling exercise on daily physical activity,physical fitness,body composition,and clinical parameters in high-volume online hemodiafiltration patients: a pilot randomized-controlled trial

Purpose

The mortality of dialysis patients treated with high-volume online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) is better than hemodialysis, but is still higher than healthy population. Low daily physical activity increases cardiovascular mortality. Addition of intradialytic exercise (IDX) program might improve physical activity and health status in OL-HDF patients. This pilot open-labeled randomized-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of IDX on physical activity and other clinical parameters in OL-HDF patients.

Methods

Twelve OL-HDF patients were randomized into control (n?=?6) or IDX (n?=?6) groups. The subjects in IDX group were trained to exercise using a cycle ergometer for 60 min during each OL-HDF session. Physical activity measured as daily step count using a wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer, physical fitness, or cardiorespiratory fitness assessed by VO₂max and other physical performance tests, lean body mass determined by the Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quality of life (QOL), and various parameters were compared between baseline and 6 months.

Results

The baseline physical activity status was comparable. Following 6-month IDX, the physical activity was significantly improved in IDX group [+?1048.79 (+?741.50,?+?2792.54) vs. ? 362.06 (? 1626.82, ? 167.47) steps/day, p?=?0.01], while physical fitness and QOL were unchanged. The lean body mass parameters were preserved in the IDX group while seemed to decrease in the control group. Serum albumin was significantly increased in the IDX group (p?=?0.01). The hemoglobin changes were significantly better (p?=?0.01) and the erythropoietin resistance index was significantly lower in the IDX group (p?=?0.03). Phosphate reduction was significantly greater in the IDX group (p?=?0.04).

Conclusions

IDX could improve physical activity and other metabolic parameters in OL-HDF patients and these might contribute to further improvement in clinical and survival outcomes.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Registration: NCT03353844.

     

Community-acquired pneumonia in southeast Asia: the microbial differences between ambulatory and hospitalized patients

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine microbial agents causing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Southeast Asia. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: Three general hospitals in Thailand. PATIENTS: Two hundred forty-five adult patients fulfilling the clinical criteria of CAP from September 1998 to April 2001. INTERVENTIONS: Investigations included sputum Gram stain and culture, blood culture, pleural fluid culture (if presented), urine antigen for Legionella pneumophila and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and serology for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and L pneumophila. RESULTS: There were 98 outpatients and 147 hospitalized patients included in the study, and an organism was identified in 74 of 98 outpatients (75.5%) and 105 of 147 of the hospitalized patients (71.4%). C pneumoniae (36.7%), M pneumoniae (29.6%), and S pneumoniae (13.3%) were the most frequent causative pathogens found in outpatients, while S pneumoniae (22.4%) and C pneumoniae (16.3%) were the most common in hospitalized patients. There was a significantly higher incidence of C pneumoniae (36.7% vs 16.3%, respectively; p < 0.001) and M pneumoniae (29.6% vs 6.8%; p < 0.001, respectively) in the outpatients than in the hospitalized patients. The incidence of S pneumoniae, L pneumophila, and mixed infections was not different between the groups. Mixed infections were presented in 13 of 98 outpatients (13.3%) and 9 of 147 hospitalized patients (6.1%), with C pneumoniae being the most frequent coinfecting pathogen. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that the core organisms causing CAP in Southeast Asia are not different from those in the Western countries. The guidelines for the treatment of patients with CAP, therefore, should be the same.     

Involvement of ATP synthase β subunit in chikungunya virus entry into insect cells

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), the virus responsible for the disease chikungunya fever in humans, is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. While significant progress has been made in understanding the process by which CHIKV enters into mammalian cells, far less progress has been made in understanding the CHIKV entry process in insect cells. This study sought to identify mosquito-cell-expressed CHIKV-binding proteins through a combination of virus overlay protein binding assays (VOPBA) and mass spectroscopy. A 50-kDa CHIKV-binding protein was identified as the ATP synthase β subunit (ATPSβ). Co-immunoprecipitation studies confirmed the interaction, and colocalization analysis showed cell-surface and intracellular co-localization between CHIKV and ATPSβ. Both antibody inhibition and siRNA-mediated downregulation experiments targeted to ATPSβ showed a significant reduction in viral entry and virus production. These results suggest that ATPSβ is a CHIKV-binding protein capable of mediating the entry of CHIKV into insect cells.     

Is universal coverage a solution for disparities in health care? Findings from three low-income provinces of Thailand

The policy on universal coverage (UC) of health care has been adopted and implemented incrementally by the government of Thailand since April 2001 with the aim of providing the access to care for the uninsured population. The success of UC, however, depends on how effective its design and implementation arrangements are in reaching population and affecting households' health seeking behavior and abilities to take up benefits of UC. The results from the household survey of 1834 respondents conducted in three low-income provinces (Tak, Sakol Nakorn, Narathiwat) show that the Gold card with exemption scheme was pro-poor while other insurance schemes tended to favor the rich with 2.6% of respondents reported having more than one type of health insurance coverage and 8.9% without health insurance. The insurance status had statistically significant association with health care use, and knowledge on family planning method and sexually transmitted diseases. Additionally, consumer preferences and socioeconomics factors are a key to disparities in health care utilization.     

陕西省2005年病毒性脑炎监测结果分析

目的通过对陕西省安康、宝鸡、渭南3个地区病毒性脑炎的监测,了解病毒性脑炎流行病学特征及流行性乙型脑炎（乙脑）发病情况。方法采用ELISA法检测乙脑IgM;由监测医院报告病例,县级疾病预防控制中心进行个案调查。结果398例病例中,乙脑IgM阳性病例76例,占19.10%。在发病7 d内、7 d后采集的血标本、脑脊液标本阳性率分别为26.24%,18.18%和20.59%,其阳性率差异无统计学意义。发病7 d内与7 d后采集的血标本与脑脊液检测结果一致率分别为86.67%和80.00%。病毒性脑炎发病6～9月较高,与乙脑IgM阳性病例时间分布基本一致,11月病毒性脑炎病例出现一个小高峰;病毒性脑炎病例中15岁以下占73.62%,乙脑IgM阳性病例中0～5岁最高占36.84%,其他病毒性脑炎5～10岁组最高占40.68%;乙脑IgM阳性病例中散居儿童和农民占比例较高为71.05%,其他病毒性脑炎学生占比例较高为56.83%;未接种及接种史不详在乙脑IgM阳性病例中占76.31%;出院时转归,乙脑IgM阳性病例和其他病脑治愈比例分别为67.11%,83.23%,病死率分别为9.21%,3.11%。结论乙脑病例在发病7 d内和7 d后采血进行IgM检测对乙脑诊断均有意义。应提高乙脑疫苗接种率,在作好儿童乙脑防治的同时,加强对成人乙脑防控工作。     

Dengue virus entry into liver (HepG2) cells is independent of hsp90 and hsp70

Recently, several stress-related proteins including GRP78, hsp70, and hsp90 have been implicated as dengue virus receptors in various cell types, with hsp90/70 being implicated as a receptor complex in monocytes and macrophages, while GRP78 has been implicated as a liver cell expressed dengue virus receptor. To assess whether the hsp90/70 complex plays a role in the internalization of the dengue viruses into liver cells, we undertook infection inhibition studies with lipopolysaccharide and antibodies directed against both hsp70 and hsp90, individually and in combination. No inhibition of any dengue serotype was seen in the presence of lipopolysaccharide or antibodies directed against either hsp70 or hsp90 either singly or in combination. A moderate inhibition of dengue virus serotype 2 entry into liver cells was observed in the presence of antibodies directed against GRP78. These results confirm a proposed role for GRP78 as a dengue virus serotype 2 receptor protein and suggest that the recently identified hsp90/70 complex does not play a role in dengue virus internalization into liver cells.     

Silver diamine fluoride and glass ionomer differentially remineralize early caries lesions,in situ

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the percent mean mineral density (MD) change of early caries lesions after the application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) or glass ionomer cement (GIC).

Materials and methods

This double-blind, crossover study involved two experimental phases of 28 days each. Thirty-two pairs of enamel slabs were created from the proximal surfaces of 16 premolars. Each pair of artificial carious slabs was randomly divided into the control or test group (38 % SDF or GIC). The slabs were attached to orthodontic brackets and bonded to the maxillary first permanent molars of 16 subjects for 28 days. After a 7-day washout period between phases, the subjects received the other material for the second phase. The mean MD of the lesions was measured by microcomputed tomography.

Results

SDF yielded a percent mean MD increase at a depth of 0–84 μm, although increase in the GIC group was observed at a depth of 24–108 μm. The percent mean MD changes of the SDF and GIC groups were similar (p?=?0.100) and significantly higher than in control (p?<?0.001, p?=?0.003, respectively).

Conclusions

The two materials increased the percent mean MD change of early proximal caries lesions to a similar extent, but with different spatial patterns.

Clinical relevance

Due to deeper level of GIC remineralization, the refractive index of the GIC applied enamel might be closer to sound enamel. Hence, GIC is recommended for remineralization of anterior teeth. SDF staining makes it unsuitable for use in anterior teeth; thus, it is reserved for use in posterior teeth.